There are at least 2 examples of Acme trucks in existence. You can see one example and learn more about the Acme Motor Truck Company at the Wexford County Historical Society Museum. Address: 127 Beech St., Cadillac, MI 49601 Phone: (231) 775-1717 Website: https://www.wexfordcountyhistory.org/
In 1901 Walter A. Kysor bought William McAdie's machine shop and later named it the Cadillac Machine Company in 1905. This was also the site of the original Acme which was on the N.E. corner of Lake and Harris Streets. The factory is no longer standing.
The original offices were moved from Lake Street to the Masonic building. Address: 122 North Mitchell St., Cadillac MI
The second factory location is not open to the public. It is where AAR Mobility Systems sits today. Address: 201 Haynes Street, Cadillac MI 49601
summary
In 1915 Walter A. Kysor, J.P. Wilcox, and C.J. Helm founded the Cadillac Auto Truck Company in Cadillac, MI. The first truck was produced later that same year and the company began to take off. A conflict with the Cadillac Motor Car Company of Detroit prompted a change in name to the Acme Motor Truck Company in 1917. Throughout its' history Acme built trucks ranging in size and weight as well as buses. Along the way they were not only producers of vehicles but also innovators and contributed to many improvements in the industry. Kysor would leave the company in 1923 to start his own automotive heater company and would go on to be very successful. Truck production continued for Acme into 1929 as the Great Depression and other factors took their toll on the industry. The company would flounder until 1932 and in January of that year Acme would cease to exist.
The story
1884
The first factory complex that the Acme Motor Truck Company would occupy was originally the Michigan Iron Works...
1901
Walter A. Kysor was known as a mechanical genius and was a well respected businessman. Kysor, his father Frank, and uncle came to Cadillac from Pennsylvania to purchase the W.M. McAdie & Company which had been in business for sixteen years in the buildings formerly occupied by the Michigan Iron Works...
1905
In 1905 W.M. McAdie & Company was renamed the Cadillac Machine Company...
The block the original location was on is shown to the left with West Mason ending where the Cadillac Police Department is today...
1915
The idea of a truck company was pitched August 5th, 1915 at a meeting of the Cadillac Board of Trade. Republic Truck in Alma, MI was established just months earlier and had become an example of what was possible in truck manufacturing...
Later in August the final details were put in place and on September 1st the Cadillac Auto Truck Company was officially formed...
$100,000 in stock was the initial investment in the company....
The logo patent was filed in November and published in December...
Also in December the first truck was produced and was purchased by Charles Foster of the Charles J. Foster Storage and Crating Company. Cadillac machine continued to be used as a secondary factory at least through the mid-20's...
It is said that Acme bodies as well as bodies for buses and other vehicles were made at the Cadillac Cabinet & Construction Company...
As production geared up, Acme introduced a two-ton model as well as a 3/4 ton model to be produced into 1916...
Acme had very strong marketing out of the gate and throughout the company's history...
1915 ads
1916
Acme was making a splash in the industry right away with competitive models and quality construction...
By the middle of 1916, sales had increased and the company was recruiting more agents to sell their trucks. Capital was also increased and an addition was being built on the factory to handle the sales volume...
Offices were moved to the Masonic building. The address for Cadillac/Acme showed many different numbers all on Mitchell Street which is believed to be due to an early marketing idea. Each ad had a specific address number to determine what ads were working and in which magazines or newspapers they appeared...
New models continued to be added to the lineup and interest continued to grow locally and nationally...
At the end of the year the first convention of Acme Truck salesmen was held. Also the name "Cadillac" was under scrutiny because the Cadillac Motor Car Company, which had been in business since 1902, felt the name "Cadillac" should not be used by the new venture and filed a lawsuit...
1916 ads
1917
Business continued to increase in 1917 including more strong marketing as well as sales around the country...
The city of Cadillac would vote to replace their fire equipment pulled by horses with new Acme trucks which would be added to the department over the next few years...
As Acme outgrew the old plant, a new facility started to be built in September and by early 1918 the company started production in the factory they would occupy until they closed in 1932...
A new four-ton model was added as well as larger engines going into the 1918 model year...
1917 ads
1918
In early 1918 the lawsuit started by Cadillac of General Motors had been settled and the Cadillac Auto Truck Company was now officially the Acme Motor Truck Company. Capital was once again increased and the company continued to expand...
Acme was certainly one of the most cutting edge automobile or truck manufacturers in the country continuing to introduce and refine models, expand distribution, invent marketing strategies, and create jobs...
The production plant needed to be expanded once again to handle the volume of business primarily from municipalities. The old Cadillac Machine plant was to be used as a second factory location...
It was announced in November that a five-ton model would be added to the available models...
As the models of automobiles and trucks progressed so did ideas that perhaps the United States needed a highway system similar to those in France...
ads 1918
1919
The city of Cadillac continued to grow along with Acme attracting new industries to town. Acme's business was booming and again needed to expand as they sold units all over the U.S...
Acme trucks continued to increase prices as demand grew. Once again their many models offered a choice for many different customers with quality parts and innovations setting the company apart from other manufacturers. Acme was one of the first companies to offer hydraulic brakes not to mention using parts throughout their history such as universal joints from the Blood Brothers(Kalamazoo, MI). A partnership with Louis and Gaston Chevrolet led to development of the Cornelian race car which Louis ran in the 1915 Indy 500...
1919 ads
1920-1921
Acme Trucks were shown in all of the big auto shows including New York, Chicago, and Europe and the company continued to produce a quality product, expand its facilities, and exceed sales goals...
"The Truck of Proved Units" was the slogan of Acme and certainly held true as many vehicles were put through challenges in cities and beyond...
Continuing their lead in ingenuity and marketing, Acme trucks were built with parts that were proven as well as those that fit the region where they were sold. A winter cab was one such innovation along with the publication "Acme Angles" which showcased merits of the vehicles...
Many customers of Acme trucks were impressed of the money saved operating the vehicles and shared those stories in many different publications...
1920-1921 ads
1922
In 1922 Acme lost one of their innovators. A.W. Stromberg was responsible for launching and editing "Acme Angles" which proved to be a very useful marketing tool as stated above...
In September a special built Acme six-ton truck was charged with the moving of the entire village of Jennings to Cadillac. The move was finished in January of 1923 with the exception of one building...
Acme introduced the "rolling grocery store" to Columbus, OH near the end of the year...
1922 ads
1923
By September of 1923 Walter A. Kysor who had helped start the company had resigned and C.J. Helm had taken over as General Manager. Kysor would try and help improve parts distribution and service conditions in the industry but would ultimately start his own company the following year. The Kysor Heater Company located in Allegan would sell a new kind of automobile heater which heated fresh air from outside and forced it into the car...
Acme continued to be a major part of the automotive and trucking industry through its existence and at the end of 1923 it ventured into the bus business...
1924
1924 saw new lightweight models...
1924 ads
1925-1926
Sales were only average at the end of 1924. Acme continued to adjust model production with their trucks and innovations with their bus line including larger headlights and safety features. C.J. Helm, who had been one of the founders of the company, would leave due to his health...
Key employees continued to come and go but by mid-1926 sales were once again increasing...
At the end of 1926, Acme absorbed the United Motor Products Company in Grand Rapids, MI which produced the United truck. They produced trucks under both names the following year...
1925-1926 ads
1927-1928
Business continued to be good for Acme through 1928 with 1927 being the most successful year since 1920. They also were part of innovations which included a modern-era grader and snow plow design...
Yet again key employees continued to come and go...
Former founder of Acme, Walter A. Kysor, would bring his new auto heater concern to Cadillac...
As truck production increased throughout the U.S. and the world, laws needed to be put in place to preserve roads that were being built. Acme was certainly part of that conversation expressing their own opinion as seen here in 1928. Load limits would eventually be put in place throughout the world and are still regulated today...
1929
By the middle of 1929, another employee of Acme had left the company and ventured into the aviation business. Stanley Ray had gotten together with local businessman Harry Harris to pitch a school for pilots...
Still more innovations of the company continued to occur. Unfortunately the end of Acme was just around the corner...
The Great Depression began in August of 1929 and the following month a receiver was appointed for the once mighty Acme Motor Truck Company and court proceeding began. This however would not be the official end of the company...
This article appeared at the end of 1929 honoring James C. Pappin who had worked for Acme as a blacksmith and had been in this same vocation for sixty years. It pays homage to the caliber of worker that the company employed...
1930
In January of 1930 Acme was purchased from the receivers for $180k. The new owners consisted of local lumbermen and former stockholders...
1931
By January of 1931 operations had started once again at the Acme plant and new orders were coming in...
1932
By January of 1932 the Acme Motor Truck Company closed for good. It is thought the combination of the Great Depression combined with larger and more efficient auto and truck makers was the contributing factor in the demise of the company...
1936-
The city of Cadillac would remain relevant in the automotive industry for years to come. In 1936 negotiations began to bring B.F. Goodrich to the old Acme plant which occurred in 1937. The Kysor Heater Company also remained in the city for several years...